HOUSTON – To cap off a remarkable two-year career with Houston Baseball, right-handed pitcher Austin Pruitt was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the ninth round at No. 278 overall in the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

A native of The Woodlands, Texas, Pruitt solidified his impressive resume, becoming Houston’s 128th all-time draft selection and fifth Cougar under head coach Todd Whitting since he took over the program back in 2011.

Being taken in the ninth round, Pruitt’s selection was the highest round selection since Houston’s Donnie Joseph was taken in the third round of 2009.

This was the 12th straight year the Houston Baseball program has had a student-athlete drafted.

“Austin is well deserving of this achievement," Whitting said. "He has played a vital role in the resurgence of Houston Baseball and I look forward to great things from him on the next level."

SENIOR (2013)Put together one of the most impressive senior seasons of late...Led the Cougar pitching staff in wins (10), ERA (2.85), starts (15), innings pitched (113.2) and strikeouts (92)...Compiled a 10-5 record and notched the first 10-win season since Brad Lincoln had 12 in 2006...Racked up five complete games to lead C-USA...Lasted at least 6.0 innings in all 15 starts...Became the first Cougar to throw 100+ innings (113.2) since Brad Lincoln's 127.2 innings in 2006...Broke UH's single-season strikeout record by a senior with 92 punchouts...Notched six of his 10 wins at Cougar Field...Moved into a tie for ninth all-time with eight total home wins...Held opposing hitters to a .246 average...Tallied three 10+ strikeout games...Notched a career-high 13 strikeouts in 8.0-inning win over East Carolina (March 23)...Had 12 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout win over Seton Hall (April 13)...Pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout at Texas State with 10 strikeouts (Feb. 23)...Became just the ninth C-USA player all-time and fourth Cougar to throw a one-hitter in a nine-inning game in league history...Opened 2013 with a 3-0 record in first three starts...Tossed 18.0 consecutive scoreless innings to open the year...Was 6-1 and helped Houston to its best 25-game start at 21-4 since 1989...Two complete game shutouts...Compiled wins over Northeastern (Feb. 16), Texas State (Feb. 23), Baylor (twice, March 2, March 16), East Carolina (March 23), Memphis (March 31), Seton Hall (April 13), UAB (May 11), Southern Miss (May 17), East Carolina (C-USA Champ-May 23)

JUNIOR (2012)Became an integral part of the Houston pitching staff in debut season as a Cougar...Made 16 appearances on the bump...Started a team-best 14 games...Ended year as Houston's top starter...Finished with a 4.25 ERA, a team-low for starters...Recorded a 3-4 record, tying for most wins this year...Tossed a team-high 91.0 innings...Fanned 57 hitters and held opponents to a .287 average...Went 5.0+ innings in 12 of his 14 starts...Tallied a complete game (8.0 innings) at UL-Lafayette (March 6)...Recorded a season-long outing of 8.1 innings in starter vs. UCF (April 1)...Went 8.0+ innings in back-to-back starts vs. UCF and at East Carolina (April 7)...Earned first win vs. Sam Houston State (March 13); tossed 5.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts...Tallied second win at Southern Miss (March 25); pitched 6.2 innings with six strikeouts...Third win came at No. 6 Rice in 7.1 innings of work... Struck out a season-high seven hitters vs. Rice (Feb. 28)...Made eight starts in C-USA play...Struck out 32 in 52.2 innings of work...Opened 2012 with a 4.1 scoreless inning relief effort vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (Feb. 21)...Struck out six in 6.2 innings vs. Southern Miss (May 24) at the C-USA Championship

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